Keeping your 4D metrology instrument running in prime condition is a way of retaining performance and value, while ensuring reliability for years and years. 4D Technology’s products are built to last, and we stand by them with our warranty, and offer service for years afterwards. Many customers use these instruments for essential production measurements. Downtime

In a recent article on LIDAR technology by Senior Editor John Wallace in Laser Focus World magazine, the author included several paragraphs referring to PolarCam’s micropolarizer technology, which can be used to model 3D space through measuring angle of linear polarization and the distance to objects. The article covers various methods, options and optical technologies

When 4D Technology’s AccuFiz interferometers’ patented dynamic mode was introduced, their spatial-phase-shifting technique provided an amazing capability. The stability requirements (sensitivity to vibration) for a measurement dropped from 100’s of milliseconds to less than 1 millisecond. It offered a 2- to 3-orders of magnitude increase in robustness, making it the recommended mode for noisy environments

PolarCam is now available in a high-performance camera model, compatible with our PolarView polarimetry software. You can download the new datasheet from the PolarCam page. In addition to PolarView Software, 4D Technology offers a Software Development Kit that will help you develop your own methods of capturing data from PolarCam. On our PolarCam page, you

Come see our instruments demonstrated live in San Francisco, at Photonics West 2019, February 5-7, 2019. SPIE’s Photonics West event is the premier annual expo and technical gathering in the optics industry. How to find us Directions: Turn right from the entrance of the South Hall, and walk in the direction of the China Pavilion.

Measuring optics for space-based optical systems, like the James Webb Space Telescope, comes with a high risk-profile. After all, it’s difficult to get systems into space, and once deployed, it can be very hard to make a repair visit. NASA is understandably careful not to leave their next big optics project to chance, and they

It seems sometimes that there are few challenges left in Fizeau interferometry. Within the span of a lifetime, we moved from fringe counting, to fringe tracing software, to phase shifting. There were beam expanders and families of products with interchangeable accessories. Radius of curvature measurements have come a long way. Then there were instantaneous measurements,

Nanometrics Announces Acquisition of 4D Technology Corporation Dynamic Interferometry® business expands served markets and enables new process control technology solutions MILPITAS, Calif., October 29, 2018 — Nanometrics Incorporated (NASDAQ: NANO), a leading provider of advanced process control systems, today announced that it is acquiring 4D Technology Corporation, a leading supplier of high-performance interferometric measurement and

The humble mantis shrimp is considered to have the most complex eyes of any animal. Their eyes don’t just look weird from the outside—they’re weird all the way through. Each eye turns independently of the other. And each one sees in 3D. Imagine being able to see 3D views of your surroundings in two different

What is polarization? Polarization is the characteristic of a light wave that describes the orientations of its oscillations as it propagates through space. Light waves can be randomly polarized, linearly polarized, circularly polarized, and elliptically polarized. Light directly from the sun is unpolarized, or in other words randomly polarized, but when sunlight interacts with the

4D Technology has introduced a new line of polarization cameras for image enhancement, stress measurement, polarimetry and other applications. The PolarCam™ snapshot micropolarizer camera simultaneously captures four polarization states in each video frame, enabling a range of image enhancement techniques and polarimetric measurements. Compact, fast and field-proven, these unique cameras serve applications in process control,

The PhaseCam® 6100 is a highly compact, dynamic laser interferometer with a 4MP camera and fully motorized controls for measurement of optics and optical systems. With a 633 nm internal diode, the PhaseCam 6100 is ideal for long optical path-length measurement of large afocal optical systems such as concave telescope mirrors and lens systems, and

Do you need to dramatically reduce scrap and rework of precision machined parts? We can help. Attend 4D Technology’s “Simple, 3D Shop Floor Measurement Reduces Part Rejection” webinar on Thursday, January 11, 1:00 pm EST (18:00 GMT) to learn about new methods for affordable, high resolution, shop-floor surface defect and feature measurement. We will discuss

4D Technology is excited to name LOT Quantum Design as a new distributor for 4D products in Italy. LOT have been one of the leading European distributors of high-tech instrumentation and consumables for scientific, academic and industrial research for over 45 years. We look forward to working with the LOT team to provide an improved

The highly polarized state of light scattered from the corona has been known since 1871. In 1905 Schwartzchild suggested that the polarization was produced from Thompson scattering of photons by free electrons trapped along magnetic field lines. This also led to the prediction that the polarization should have radial symmetry which was confirmed by Ney

Amazing image from a 4D PolarCam taken during today’s solar eclipse, at approx. 10:16am PST in Corvallis, Oregon. The image here is showing the measured AoLP (Angle of Linear Polarization). The polarized light in the corona is believed to be primarily from Thompson scattering from electrons in the strong magnetic fields around the sun. Several

Michael North-Morris, PhD, has been named a Senior Member of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics. Senior Member status is given to members of distinction in honor of their professional experience, their active involvement with the optics community and SPIE, and/or significant performance that sets them apart from their peers. Dr. North Morris,

4D Technology presented this webinar discussing improved methods and technologies for high resolution, shop-floor surface defect measurement on Tuesday, July 18, 2017. Registration is closed for the webinar. Accurate measurement of surface defects is essential to the long life and performance of precision components for aerospace, automotive, and other applications. The challenge facing inspectors is how

The 4D InSpec Surface Gauge is featured in Advanced Manufacturing’s article, “Roughness, Profiles and Surfaces—Getting Them Right.” Read the Advanced Manufacturing article here to learn about measuring surface features and defects in high resolution with the 4D InSpec. Learn more about the 4D InSpec Surface Gauge.

A few months ago we reported that NASA had successfully completed a Center of Curvature (COV) of the James Webb Space Telescope prior to rigorous mechanical testing to simulate launch conditions. The COV test, which measures the shape of Webb’s main mirror, was completed using a 4D Technology PhaseCam 4020 High Power High Speed interferometer. The

The 4D InSpec Surface Gauge was named one of seven finalists in the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences’ CTMA (Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activities) Awards 2017. The NCMS and the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Maintenance Policy and Programs (MPP) issued the 2017 CTMA Technology Competition to introduce new technologies to DoD’s maintenance

4D Technology recently hosted students from the University of Arizona’s Optical Sciences college on a tour of the 4D facilities in Tucson, Arizona. Kevin Erwin, who teaches an optical engineering outreach class at Optical Sciences, arranges a tour each semester to a local company that manufactures products involving optical technology. The tours help students, both

Phasing mirror segments is critical to accurate observations for many of the world’s largest telescopes, which employ segmented primary mirrors. In these instruments the primary mirror consists of many hexagonal segments, rather than a single, monolithic mirror. Using segments enables fabrication of larger primary mirrors. Segments are also easier to fabricate, transport, install, and maintain.

Stephen J. Martinek, 4D Technology’s Director of Sales, recently participated as a panelist at the “Discover Global Markets: Advanced Manufacturing” Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. Mr. Martinek provided his extensive experience in worldwide instrument sales to the “Experts on Exporting” panel. The conference was hosted by the U.S. Commercial Service and the Arizona District Export Council,

This video shows how the 4D InSpec Surface Gauge is used to measure turbine blade edge defects. The video walks through the quick process required to measure turbine blade edge scratches and pits. The presenter shows how focus, brightness and settings can affect measurement results. Click here to view the video.

This video shows how to use the 4D InSpec Surface Gauge Feature Analysis to measure surface defects on precision machined surfaces. The handheld, portable 4D InSpec can measure surface defects on large or complex surfaces. The Feature Analysis automatically locates all features in the field of view based on user-input criteria. It then presents them